Curtain stretcher



Dec. 7,` 1948.

C. F. ASHBAUGH CURTAIN STRETGHER Filed Feb. 20, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet l CLAI R F" AS H BAUGH ATTOR N EY Patented Dec. 7, 1948 of.

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@Clair F. Ashbaugh, Portland, Oreg..` .y f im applieationlnebruary 2o, 1947,se`rla`i No, '129,699 Y 1 `This invention relates to` la. jcurtain stretcher, probably designated with greater accuracy ,as a curtain dryer `or curtain frame, as 3 stretching-With enough force to keep the curtain-straight,sqlthat it can be hung without ironingmis the purpose `of all of the adjustable curtain `frames.

Since a curtain contractswhen changing from the wet to dry state,` it, -is veryapt .to beydistorted to the detriment of its even appearance; the word contracts being used instead of shrinkingas the latter, applied to fabrics has a settled meaning of permanent reduction.

It is an object of the invention to construct a curtain frame with hooks to which curtains may be attached by their borders, wherein each hook is spring sustained and yieldable to prevent distortion and impairment in appearance as the curtain dries and becomes smaller.

It is admitted that placing a single spring behind every hook could not be regarded as invention since anything may be hung on a spring, but I employ a single spring of slight construction and low cost to springily support a large group of hooks, greatly reducing the cost and attaining a uniformity of spring action on the hooks not believed possible with individual springs which7 as stated, is another object f the invention.

Drawings accompany and form a part of the invention, in -which Fig. 1 is a plan view of a rectangular, adjustable, tubular curtain frame embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a much enlarged view of the upperleft hand corner of the structure shown in` Fig. l, taken between the boundaries indicated by the planes 2-2 in Fig. 1, the enlargement being foreshortened to make room for it on the sheet;

Fig. 3 is a section taken on the plane 3 3, Fig. 3, showing the clamping elbow, one of the clamp structures which makes the device possible;

Fig. 4 is a section taken on the plane 4 4,

Fig. 2, showing a detail of the spring andthe manner of springily supporting the plurality of hooks;

Fig. 5 is a perspective of the spring anchor to be explained; and

Fig. 6 is a detail of the hook, detached from the spring and indicating a preferred manner of attaching it to a loop of the spring.

Explaining the drawings in greater detail. Considering Fig. 1, the curtain frame is of conventional appearance except that the members are tubular and comprise elbows, I, with clamp screws, 2, telescoping tubes such as 3 and smaller tubes, 4, that telescope into the tubes 3.

It is intended that the tubular members shall be rolled of sheet aluminum alloy or magnesium alloy, `the exact composition: of which is no part ofthe invention.` 4Since neither metal may be conveniently welded and drawn tube would be of prohibitive cost, then tubular members are rolled from sheets and` when iinished have `slots from endftto end@` u 1 i m l l Obviously, such a tubular frame member, made oftheveryflight'sheet material `necessary to keep the` cost wherethe frame can be used, will have no stability `and cannot bei clamped as shown without some device that offsets the fact of an end-to-end slot. To accomplish this I employ the clamp key 5, believed to be an entirely unique device, which makes the whole apparatus workable. As shown in Fig. 3 where only one of the two key parts 5' is seen, the key-part fits snugly into the slot B of the clamped tubular member 4 and loosely in the split slot I of the elbow I. It will be at once apparent, then, that when the screw 8 is tightened, the whole elbow structure with its inserted tube will be rigid and also that the key parts -5' serve to keep the parts exactly inalignment. In Fig.`3, the ears IA and IB are made a part of the elbow I, and it is to be noted that the slot 8 fits the key while the slot in the elbow is wide enough to allow screw pressure on the tube 4.

Clamps 9, are made a part of each tubular member 3, there being one at each end; and key clamps I0, with a single key-part I0', are so formed that they project through the slots Il of the tubular members 3, and also the slots 6 of the smaller tubular members 4, serving the same purpose in the same way and permitting the relative telescoping action to approach closely to curtain size that is common to curtain frames.

Next, I will describe the hooks for holding the edges of the curtain fabric and the manner of making them exert a springy action on the curtain,

A spiral spring I5, of long pitch and light spring wire is attached to spring caps I6, with center lugs I1, provided with holes I8 by having their free ends rebent after passing through the holes I8 as shown at I9 in Fig. 2. These spring caps I6 have the same outside diameter as the tubes 4; springs preferably but not necessarily are of suficient length so that there is only one spring for each run of tubes; that is, one for each side and one for each end; each end being secured to spring caps I6 as shown in the upper left hand section, Fig. 2. The spring will havesuicient extensibility and compressibility to permit the telescopic action of the tubular sides and ends Without affecting the springy action on the hooks,

with its medium portotl andi' s'pmnsineas l@ is present whether or not there is overall ten'- sion in the spring as a whole; though as stated,Ary 'by said clamping means.

the action will be better if there is some overall', tension. The operation of the curtains frames needs no further explanation.

Having fully described my new"curta;\irr"trme and its principle of operatic/npK what" It'clamfis: new:7 and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: g

1. A rectangular curtain frame made# teleseoping slotted tubular members with slot- L spiralf offfsaidl spring andi, projecting: throughf-saitl slots to the inside area of the fra-me,.;a:nd; means forv elarrnoingf.ther said? tubular members; andi` the saidk slotted? elbows tngethenrigidit fWi-temitcv co1:-

lapsing. the; said slots?.` to; interfere: with: fnee movement of# saidzhooks:l

2. A rectangular frame enclosing a, rectangular space comprising slotted tubular side members, slotted tubular end members, curtain hooks that project through said slots, and clamping means for securing said slotted members in adjusted position comprising a clamp member, ears thereon, a clamping screw member through the said ears and a clamp key between the said ears.d that .proiects through the said slots, said leyfprojeehng through saidi slots; to' prevent co1- l'apse of the slotted tubular members to bind the hooks when the tubular members are clamped CLAIR F. ASHBAUGH.

` REFERENCES CITED following' references are of record in the lezo-this patent:

UNITED STMI'ES PATENTS uinber Name Date norma-r Gieaves sept.l 16;- 1913 136741398" Edwards June/ 19; 1938 2*,350''ll` Morando' Jarr. 19'; 1943 seamen, PATENTS;

l'in'nberA Count-ry Date:` Gleat Britain 18'64 

